SEPTA scrambles to find more parking in Norristown as U.S. Open increases train ridership

Wells Fargo Bank’s parking lot is full in Norristown on Thursday, June 12, 2013. Parking lots in the Norristown area were filled with people taking the train to attend the U.S. Open golf tournament held at the Merion Golf Club. All lots were filled to capacity forcing work commuters to find street parking throughout Norristown and Bridgeport. (Photo by Gene Walsh / Times Herald)

NORRISTOWN ­­— The SEPTA parking garage at the Norristown Transportation Center was filled to capacity early Wednesday morning with extra train riders heading to the U.S. Open.

The gates for Wednesday’s practice round opened at 6 a.m. and according to reports, the parking garage was filled to capacity by 7:30 a.m.

“The parking garage has a capacity of 500 spaces. By 7:30 a.m. this morning it was full,” said Jerri Williams, the SEPTA director of media relations. “We were able to make available a freight yard that is owned by SEPTA that is adjacent to the garage on DeKalb Pike that had an additional 200 spaces. It is my understanding that filled up quickly, too.”

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Williams said there was no parking charge for the freight yard parking spaces on Wednesday.

“Normally that garage has 250 cars in it,” Williams said. “It sounds like the other 250 cars were going to the U.S. Open.”

Williams said that SEPTA officials had reserved parking spaces in the garage for the 50 SEPTA commuters who have monthly parking passes at the garage. She said that even if signs at a garage driveway said the garage was full, the parking pass holders had parking spaces available inside.

Williams said SEPTA officials were asking all commuters to recognize that the U.S. Open was adding more riders to the regional rail system.

“We ask all people to be patient,” Williams said. “We understand how inconvenient it is for regular commuters. Our role is to provide transportation for all commuters.”

Williams said the freight yard would be used for parking cars through the end of the U.S. Open on Sunday.